The Chariots of the Gods

Dogū

I've managed to win a few battles with everyday life lately and get around to getting my Etsy looking a little more like a place to buy things. I seriously need to relieve some shelf space around the flat, it looks like an archaeology department exploded in here so don't be shy! You'd be helping a brother out.

Cursing Nails, African fetish

I've listed my Dogū in three colours, a few African fetishes and my Moon Child. They seem to be getting a bit of attention but we'll see. I've also managed to work on a couple of longer running projects - my Mountains of Madness prop collection and a few fine art sculptures. One of the larger art pieces has really become a labour of love. It's easy to underestimate these things at times but I'm hoping it'll all be worth the work. I've also finally had the printing of my certificates of authenticity completed too. I'm really happy with the final product and from now on selected item from my Etsy with come with one of these bad boys. I do love photoshop but I'm certainly no pro so it took some doing. The first to go out with one will be the Fairy Fossils. 

Fairy Fossil

Not really a Miskatonic item I hear you say? No. With the Etsy and specifically my Mountains of Madness set, I'm attempting to go beyond the books and fill in some of the questions the stories pose while extending the universe a little. Universities are strange places after all. More of that some other time but if you have a moment, stop by my Etsy if you get a chance. I'll sort you out.  

Extremities, organs and associated paraphernalia.

If you are a keen reader (Hi Nan!) you may remember a post I did a while ago about my Witch's hand and heart. Well the project had a point and direction which I didn't really touch on back then. The goal was to produce a couple of artifacts, storage for said artifacts and documentation to support a long, interesting but readable history. Well and am pleased to say I think I have finished. 

For the Glory of God

I've also produced a Witch's finger (Check out this fantastic one on Propnomicon) as a smaller project along with an aged accompanying letter and photos from the original seller of both items. So here's the story,  On the 25th of may 1951 The good Rev S. Jones contacts Mr C. H. Williamson of the Newly established Isle of Man witchcraft Museum. The Reverend has a rather expensive roof to fix and a church vault full of rather distasteful relics the diocese wish to distance themselves from. He snaps some pictures and toddles off to the post office. The deal is done. 

 

Cursed Finger

Mr Williamson takes delivery of the items, cleans em up, dresses up the cases a bit, archives them and issues his admission tickets. Happy days! In 1958 and in line with the attitudes of the times, favour falls from the struggling Museum and it is closed. These two items, being of sensitive materials and historical importance are again sold. The London Museum takes delivery, another set of archives tags are added and a new warehouse becomes their home.

Now if you are a keen eyed devil, I'm sure you'll notice the original post about the Witch's hand is dated the 9th of November. This was the first time I've created prop documents and photos of this age and I have to say it is a huge under taking. Not only the research involved in finding probable situations, but places, people, understanding their motivations and language are all part of the story and just as important as the main props. Then there's the ageing. I've worked with wood a bit and am comfortable with my ageing process but paper and photos are a whole different kettle of witch's brew. There's finding historical paper and photo sizes, stamps, postage marks, making authentic envelopes. I could go on and on. I can't remember how many versions of the photos I've taken, printed, then aged and tested. I know I'm up to six completed versions of the envelopes before I was happy and the letter. Oh god! The letter! lol. I certainly have a new respect for anyone producing this type of material but what joy! I really can't tell you how much I've enjoyed this project and how satisfying it has been. 

My Etsy

So, what's next. Well I am pleased to tell you I've opened an Etsy. It's been in the works for a while and the  Witch's hand and heart was always to be my first listing. I've been working on a few other things as well to go on there such as the Fairy fossils and the Dogū so please check it out and let me know what you think. More listings to come. Thank you for stopping by.

No rest for the wicked.

Exeter's only faithful weather lady has joyously informed me that the few lonely blooms are no joke. We have achieved three days straight with out rain. The shadowless grey of this good Thursday is doing it's best to hide that spring is here. I smell paint, glue and various art and craft surplies in the air. Right across this little town artisans of every kind are wrapping up the last of the fresh work and counting their change. Thanks to the good folk at No Guts, No Glory, Handmade Arcade is back.  

Myself and lot's of other interesting and far more talented crafters will be dragging our rag tag selves to the intimate, ever changing and fiercely interdependent McCoys Arcade on Fore St on the 2nd of March for some live music, friendly chin wagging, a hot brew or seven and some good ol' style handmade goods of every kind.

 

I know a few of the people who will be having stalls but I'll let you all know when I find out a bit more gossip. Pop on down and say.

At the mountains.

Just finished a couple of versions of my Miskatonic University Seal. The dark version is in my opinion a little more of a modern take. This is produced by the Uni's secret society fraternity. The lighter version is a little more traditional although I think the font is still slightly mismatched. These are Part of a project I've been working on for a while. I'm afraid it still has a ways to go but feel free to enjoy these under creative commons licence.

Update- So after a little more playing around this is the new seal for my secret society project. I've swapped out the stripes and gone with a checker board for a masonic feel and ajusted a few other things. I'm happy enough with it for the moment but the finishes item will be a little different still. The motto will be changed and the Miskatonic University Arkham will also be replaced with the society name. I'll keep that under my hat for the moment but things are moving along.

Dogū. Ancient Aliens

Shakōki-dogū 1000–400 BCE. Tokyo National Museum Japan

One has to enjoy a good story. Si non è vero è ben trovato. I can't help but love the ancient aliens theory. At best Eric von Daniken has cracked wide open the meaning behind some of the world's greatest mysteries. Huh. At worst created some of the most entertaining books and television series I have had the laugh out loud pleasure of enjoying. Not unlike cryptozoology, the ancient aliens ideas are great fun and very infectious. I love they way Daniken ties so many different and seemingly random historical elements together and weaves an epic story of forgotten interaction. My favourite artifact from the theory would easily be the Dogū. Dating from 14,000–400 BC the Dogū are found right across Japan. They are found in many different forms, from animal to human. The heavily stylised designs have been interpreted in as many and diverse ways as the forms themselves. Like many seemingly normal artifacts it is apparent to Daniken and fans like myself that the only obvious reason for these liknesses is alien contact with prehistoric man.

Dogū. Jomon period 14,000-400 BC.
Unearthed at the Ebisuda dig in Tajiri by Dr Barry John.

 I started mine with a reasonably common Dogū silhouette. Once the general figure was formed I began to add small details. I didn't want them too fine as I wanted to achieve a look of carved stone. I then added cuffs to give the appearance of a suit, boots and a type of head dress. The next step was easily the hardest. I wanted my Dogū to be unmistakeably an ancient alien but at the same time the idea of early man interpreting this mysterious figure had to be apparent. I added a box to the back of the suit and added shoulder straps, as backpacks would be a recognisable device and hinted at some type of powerful force contained by way of a sun carving and thrust coming from the bottom. I tried different types of mask or breathing apparatus and again settled with a mixture of commonly Dogū style eyes with simplified filter type mask.

I've worked on this one for a while now between larger projects and I think this was the best way to go. I've been able to try different details and find a balance of archaic interpretation, traditional sculpture and Danikenian lore.

I have some exciting news coming up on my Dogū so stay tuned. I'll keep you posted.

Left hand and heart of a convicted Witch.

Here is a little prop set I put together from an old wooden box and some odd and ends. Most of the paper props you see in the photos are items I'm collecting for a "From The Mountains Of Madness" set but I think they look good combined here.

 It seems the most famous Witch trials in England were the Pendle witches of 1612. The twelve women lived in the Pendle Hill area in Lancashire and were charged with the murders of ten people by the use of witchcraft. All but two were tried at Lancaster Assizes on 18th and 19th August and subsequently executed.

Witches hands were often kept as trophies and good luck charms. Of course eventually "good taste" prevailed and keeping (witches) human hands on the mantle became thought of a little crass. The good god fearing folk then, with little choice, turned their blades to the only other possible accomplice to 17th century evil. The rabbit and his lucky foot.

Here's the finished product and the next one is the base of the box. I added another faux museum label and a random worn serial/item number sticker to hint at a bit of trading history.

I'm pretty happy with how this turned out and have a few more mythos style projects in the works including a Lovecraft inspired one I'm really excited about.